cover note for area a: coordination, discussion on un ...from the aquatic ecosystems, such as clean...

Cover Note for Area A: Coordination, Discussion on UN Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs)

At the 49th Session of the UN Statistical Commission, the Commission “Noted the strong support for using

SEEA in compiling Sustainable Development Goal indicators when relevant, and requested that the

Committee of Experts take an active role in the Sustainable Development Goal indicators process in view

of the review of the indicators in 2020.” In past sessions of the Statistical Commission, the Commission has

similarly stressed the value of the SEEA in measuring the SDG indicators.

The UNCEEA has engaged with the Inter-Agency Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals (IAEG-

SDG) since 2015. This engagement has taken the form of providing the IAEG-SDG with summary

documents and reports on the advantages of aligning SDG indicators with the SEEA standard as well as

specific roadmaps for aligning SDG monitoring mechanisms with the SEEA. For example, in 2015, the

UNCEEA submitted a Broad Brush Analysis of all the proposed SDG indicators to the IAEG-SDGs (an updated

version of which is supplied as a background document for the 13th meeting of the UNCEEA), which

outlines ‘SEEA relevant’ indicators and how they are or could be aligned with the SEEA [Annex I].

In addition, the UNCEEA has worked with custodian agencies to ensure that the System of Environmental-

Economic Accounting (SEEA) is represented where relevant. As a result, the methodology of certain

environmental indicators is aligned with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). This

alignment has occurred for example, for select Goal 6 indicators on water (6.3.1, 6.4.1), select Goal 8

indicators (8.4.1, 8.4.2) and select Goal 15 indicators (15.3.1). The UNCEEA has continued to engage with

custodian agencies in the present period. The UNCEEA has most recently engaged with UN Environment

on indicators 6.6.1 and 6.3.2 to ensure that they are aligned with the SEEA. For indicators 6.6.1 and 6.3.2,

the Committee has further encouraged testing in countries and requested the addition of the indicators to

the research agenda.

However, the UNCEEA’s efforts have to date achieved limited success. The SEEA is relevant to many

environmental indicators which are not currently aligned with the standard. For instance, Goal 7 indicators

7.2.1 (renewable energy share in total final energy consumption) and 7.3.1 (energy intensity measured in

terms of primary energy and GDP) can both be derived from the SEEA energy accounts. However, the

methodology of these indicators currently specifies that the indicators should come from energy balances,

due to their use of the territory principle.

At its 48th session, the Statistical Commission agreed with the revised global indicator framework as

proposed by the IAEG as well as with a process for annual and comprehensive indicator reviews. The

comprehensive indicator reviews (in 2020 and 2025) provide a window of opportunity for the SEEA. The

comprehensive reviews would include the addition, deletion, refinement or adjustment of indicators on

the basis of the following: (a) Indicator does not map well to the target; (b) Additional indicator(s) is needed

to cover all aspects of the target; (c) New data sources are available; (d) Methodological development of

tier III indicator has stalled or has not produced expected results; (e) Indicator is not measuring progress

towards meeting the target.

The 2020 revision provides a window of opportunity for the SEEA and the UNCEEA. The UNCEEA is

invited to consider how best to influence the 2020 revision and engage with the IAEG-SDG. A proposal has

been put forward by the co-chairs of the IAEG-SDG to the IAEG-SDG Working Group on Interlinkages to

form a subgroup of the Working Group on Interlinkages that focuses specifically on the SEEA. The primary

objective of the Working Group on Interlinkages is to identify possible interlinkages in the statistics

underlying the global SDG indicators and research and identify ways in which these interlinkages can be

harnessed to facilitate SDG monitoring and analysis. A subgroup focusing on the SEEA could help drive

forward the alignment of the relevant SDGs to the SEEA by engaging with countries, IAEG-SDG members

and custodian agencies alike.

The UNCEEA is asked to consider:

1. How should the UNCEEA best engage with the IAEG-SDG, considering the existing proposal to form

a subgroup?

2. How should the UNCEEA prioritize its focus on indicators?

o Should the UNCEEA focus on Tier 3 indicators?

o Or should the UNCEEA propose complementary indicators for Tier I indicators that are

aligned with the SEEA?

o Alternatively, should the UNCEEA prioritize those indicators for which engagement with

custodian agencies is ongoing?

Annex I: Broad Brush Analysis of SDG Indicators

The purpose of the Broad Brush Analysis of SDG Indicators is to identify SEEA-relevant Sustainable

Development Goal (SDG) indicators and provide more information on how indicators currently are aligned

with the SEEA, or how they could be aligned with the SEEA.

This analysis is an updated version of the Broad Brush Analysis of all the proposed SDG indicators, which the

UNCEEA submitted to the IAEG-SDG on 7 September 2015. As the Statistical Commission agreed with the

revised global indicator framework as proposed by the IAEG at its 48th session, the current document only

lists those indicators in the revised global indicator framework. The document identifies the custodian

agency and tier of each SEEA-relevant indicator. The document also provides a summary of the metadata,

the data availability and sources and previous engagement or work done on the indicator. For those

indicators that are currently aligned with the SEEA, the connection to the SEEA is specified. For those

indicators that are not currently aligned with the SEEA, a prosed connection to the SEEA is provided, as

are next steps being taken (if engagement is currently taking place).

Existing IndicatorCustodian

AgencyTier Notes/Meta-Data Data Availability and Sources

Previous

engagement/work

done on indicator

Way forward

GOAL 2 -

2.4.1 - Proportion of

agricultural area under

productive and

sustainable agriculture

FAO; partner with

UNEP

Tier III N/A N/A

GOAL 6 -


wastewater safely treated

WHO, UN-Habitat,

UNSD; partner with

UNEP, OECD, Eurostat

Tier II Definition:

Proportion of wastewater generated by households and by economic

activities which is safely treated (both off-site and on-site), compared to

total wastewater generated by households and economic activities.

Connection to the SEEA:

-"Wastewater safely treated" is based on treatment ladders as defined

by the SEEA.

-Measurement of wastewater is aligned with the SEEA and

encompasses all wastewater generated and treated by the economy.

-The indicator is disaggregated for households and non-households

(industrial and commercial establishments, as per ISIC Rev. 4).

Started data collection and will run through 2017.

Preliminary estimates are available for 140 countries

for 6.2.1, which provides the household portion of

the indicator by the World Bank and the JMP

(http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/publication/t

he-costs-of-meeting-the-2030-sustainable-

development-goal-targets-on-drinking-water-

sanitation-and-hygiene).

Goal website: www.wssinfo.org

6.3.2 - Propoprtion of

bodies of water with good

ambient water quality

UNEP; partner with UN-

Water

Tier II Definition:

Proportion of all water bodies in the country that have good ambient

water quality. Ambient water quality refers to natural, untreated water in

rivers, lakes and groundwaters. The methodology uses a water quality

index which combines data from the analysis of basic core water quality

parameters. Some of these parameters are direct measures of water

quality for ecosystem or human health, and the others are included to

characterise the water body. Deviation from normal ranges (in the case

of electrical conductivity and pH), or values which exceed (phosphate

and nitrogen), or fall below expected (dissolved oxygen) target values

may be symptomatic of impacts on water quality.

The methodology proposes that river basins for the unit of

No data is currently available. However, countries are

proposed to either use their own capacity to monitor or to

engage with GEMS/Water for guidance and support.

Countries will need to define river basins, define water

bodies, define monitoring stations, collect water quality

data and finally assess water quality.

The indicator will make use of a progressive monitoring

approach, with Level 1 consisting of a water quality index

of core physico-chemical parameters and optional Level 2

monitoring, including monitoring of additional parameters

and approaches such as biological, microbiological or

earth observation.

April 2018: Metadata sent to

SEEA EEA TC for review; revised

notes will be submitted to the

UNCEEA for approval.

Proposed connection to the SEEA:

Water quality provides an indication of the services that can be obtained

from the aquatic ecosystems, such as clean water, preserved biodiversity,

etc. Providing additional information (as Level 2 monitoring) on the supply

and use of ecosystem services and ecosystem condition will provide insight

as to how water quality is impacting key provisioning, regulating and cultural

services. Countries that are already producing ecosystem accounts can use

aggregations of ecosystem assets as they reflect river basins.

Next steps: UNCEEA to review metadata. Coordination with the big data

task force on Earth observation (and imparticular with chair of Statistics

Canada) needs to be ensured.

6.4.1 - Change in water-

use efficiency over time

FAO; partner with

UNEP, IUCN, UNSD,

OECD, Eurostat

Tier II Definition: Water use efficiency (WUE) is the change in the ratio fo the

value added of a given major sector to the volume of water use, over

time.

Following ISIC 4, the sectors are:

1. agriculture, forestry, fisheries (ISIC A)

2. mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air

conditioning supply; construction (ISIC B, C, D, and F)

3. all service sectors (ISIC E and G-T)

The indicator can also be aggregated by summing the weighted (by

water use over total use) efficiencies of each sector. The unit of the

indicator is expressed in value/volume (USD/m3, usually).

Connection to SEEA:

The definitions of water use and abstraction come directly from the

SEEA. Like the SEEA, the indicator follows ISIC 4. Physical flow

accounts for water can provide this data.

Other notes:

It should be noted, that what they are measuring is actually water

productivity, NOT efficiency.

Data will come from FAO's AQUASTAT. The data

will be compiled from administrative data collected at

the country level at technical (for water and

irrigation) or economic (for value added) institutions.

Presently, the data needed for the indicator are

collected by AQUASTAT and the other databases for

168 countries worldwide.

September 2017: UNSD

reviewed metadata and

provided comments to FAO.

Updated broad brush analysis of SEEA-relevant SDG indicators

6.4.2 - Level of water

stress: freshwater

withdrawal as a

proportion of available

freshwater resources

FAO; partner with

UNEP, IUCN, UNSD,

OECD, Eurostat

Tier I Definition: Total freshwater withdrawn by all major sectors as a

proportion of total renewable freshwater resources (after taking into

account environmental water requirements).

Total renewable water resources (TRWR) is sum of internal and

external renewable water resources, where IRWR refers to long-term

average annual flow of rivers and recharge of groundwater generated

from endogenous precipitation and ERWR refers to flows entering a

coutry, taking into consideration the quantity of flows reserved to

upstream and downstream countries.

Total freshwater withdrawal is volume of freshwater extracted from

sources (rivers, lakes aquifers). Calculated as sum of total water

withdrawal by sector, minus direct use of wastewater, direct use of

agricultural drainage water and use of desalinated water.

Forty-eight countries have data for 2010-present.

New data for the indicator are planned to be

produced for most countries between 2017-2018 and

will be available through Aquastat.

Proposed connection to SEEA:

SEEA is not explicitly mentioned but calculation of TRWR generally matches

up with IRWS, with the exception of any mention of overlaps. In IRWS, Total

Actual Renewable Water Resources = [Internal Renewable Water

Resources + Actual External Renewable Water Resources] = [external

inflows + surface water run-off + groundwater recharge - (overlap + treaty

obligations)],

where overlap is defined as natural transfers of groundwater to surface

water - natural transfers of surface water to groundwater.

= (B.1.a + D.6 + B.2.1 + B.2.2.b - C.2.1.1.a.a - olp )

6.6.1 - Change in the

extent of water-related

ecosystems over time

UNEP, Ramsar; partner

with UN-Water, IUCN

Tier II Definition: Water-related ecosystems includes five categories: 1)

vegetated wetlands, 2) rivers and estuaries, 3) lakes, 4) aquifers and 5)

artificial waterbodies. The majority of ecosystem types contain

freshwater, with the exception of mangroves and estuaries, which are

included but contain brackish water. The definition of vegetated

wetlands is consistent with the Ramsar Convention.

Extent has been expanded beyond spatial extent to capture additional

basic parameters. Thus, extent includes spatial extent or surface area,

the quality and the quantity of water-related ecosystems.

The methodology applies a progressive monitoring approach, with

Level 1, relating to spatial extent and water quality and an optional

Level 2, relating to quantity of water discharge in rivers and estuaries,

water quality imported from 6.3.2 and quantity of groundwater within

aquifers.

N/A April 2018: Metadata sent to

SEEA EEA TC for review; revised

notes will be usbmitted to the

UNCEEA for approval.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: Ecosystem accounting can inform the

spatial extent of water-related ecosystems. However, the applicability of the

SEEA EEA to this indicator depends on the extent to which the ecosystem

type classifications used by countries coincide with the ecosystem types

proposed by the indicator.

The SEEA-Water asset accounts can inform the quantity of groundwater

within aquifers for the level 2 subindicator.

Next steps: UNCEEA to review metadata.

6.a.1 - Amount of water-

and sanitation-related

official development

assistance that is part of a

government-coordinated

spending plan

WHO, UNEP, OECD;

partner with UN-Water

Tier I N/A N/A

GOAL 7

7.2.1 - Renewable energy

share in the total final

energy consumption

UNSD, IEA, IRENA;

partner with World

Bank, UN-Energy

Tier I Definition: The percentage of final consumption of energy that is

derived from renewable resources. Renewable energy consumption

includes consumption of energy derived from: hydro, solid biofuels,

wind, solar, liquid biofuels, biogas, geothermal, marine and waste. Total

final energy consumption is calculated from national balances and

statistics as total final consumption minus non-energy use.

Data available through national energy balances

from IEA and UNSD for more than 180 countries.

Between existing data sources, data for every

country and area can be collected.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: From a use perspective, total

final energy consumption aligns with net domestic energy use as

defined in the SEEA (end use of energy products less inventories

plus losses). The renewable portion of the end use can be estimated

from the physical supply and use tables

7.3.1 - Energy intensity

measured in terms of

primary energy and GDP

UNSD, IEA; partner

with World Bank, UN-

Energy

Tier I Definition: Energy supplied to the economy per unit value of economic

output. Total energy supply is made up of production plus net imports

minus international marine and aviation bunkers plus stock changes.

GDP is the measure of economic output; for international comparison

purposes, GDP is measured in constant terms at purchasing power

parity.

Data is available for all countries on an annual

basis. In terms of total energy supply, it is typically

calculated in making of energy balances, which are

avaialble for larger countries from IEA and for all

countries by UNSD.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: Energy accounts use the same

scope, definitions and industry classification as the national

accounts. As such energy intensity can be calculated for the

economy and particular sectors. Numerator can be found in the

energy use table (end use of energy by each sector of the economy);

denominator can be found in the national accounts. No adjusments

would be needed as energy accounts and national accounts are fully

aligned.

7.a.1 - International

financial flows to

developing countries in

support of clean energy

research and development

and renewable energy

production, including

hybrid systems

OECD, IRENA; partner

with IEA, UN-Energy,

UNEP

Tier II N/A N/A

7.b.1 - Investments in

energy efficiency as a

proportion of GDP and the

amount of foreign direct

investment in financial

transfer for infrastructure

and technology to

sustainable development

services

IEA Tier III N/A N/A

GOAL 8

8.4.1 - Material footprint,

material footprint per

capital, and material

footprint per GDP

UNEP; partner with

OECD

Tier III

(old

metadat

a up?)

Definition: Material footprint is defined as the attribution of global

material extraction to domestic final demand of a country. It is the sum

of the material footprinting for biomass, fossil fuels, metal ores and non-

metal ores.

It is calculated as raw material equivalent of imports plus domestic

extraction minus raw material equivalents of exports. For the attribution

of the primary material needs of final demand a global, multi-regional

input-output (MRIO) framework is employed. The attribution method

based on I-O analytical tools is described in detail in Wiedmann et al.

2015. It is based on the EORA MRIO framework developed by the

University of Sydney, Australia (Lenzen et al. 2013) which is an

internationally well-established and the most detailed and reliable

MRIO framework available to date.

Connection to the SEEA: Material flow accounts (product flow or parts

of economy-wide) could be used (latest edition of Eurostat guidebook

for MFA is listed as reference).

Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) is derived from economy-wide

material flow accounts (EW-MFA) a physical flow account included in

the SEEA-CF. DMC is defined as the domestic extraction of materials

(excluding bulk flows of water and air) plus physical imports minus

physical exports. DMC measures the total amount of materials (excl.

bulk flows of water and air) that are directly/actually used in a national

economy, i.e. by resident units.

The global material flows database is based on

country material flow accounts from the EU and

Japan and estimated data for the rest of the world.

Estimated data is produced on the bases of data

available from different national or international

datasets in the domain of agriculture, forestry,

fisheries, mining and energy statistics. International

statistical sources for DMC and MF include the IEA,

USGS, FAO and COMTRADE databases.

8.4.2 - Domestic material

consumption, domestic

material consumption per

capital, and domestic


GDP

UNEP; partner with

OECD

Tier I Definition: Direct imports (IM) of material plus domestic extraction (DE)

of materials minus direct exports (EX) of materials measured in metric

tonnes. DMC measures the amount of mateirals used in economic

processes and does not include materials that are mobilized in the

process of domestic extraction but do not enter the economic process.

For disaggregation, indicator can be disaggregated into imports,

domestic extraction and exports by a large number of material flow

categories. DMC is usually reported for 11 material categories.

Connection to the SEEA: Follows MFA as part of the Central

Framework of the SEEA, and in particular, the Eurostat guidebooks for

MFA accounts (latest edition of 2013).

Data is based on country material flow accounts for

EU and Japan and estimated for the rest of the

world. Estimated data is produced based on data

from IEA, USGS, FAO and COMTRADE databases.

Currently data covers more than 170 countries and

spans a period of 40 years (1970-2010).

8.9.1 - Tourism direct GDP

as a proportion of total

GDP and in growth rate

UNWTO; partner with

UNEP

Tier II Not yet posted Not yet posted

8.9.2 - Proportion of jobs

in sustainable tourism

industries out of total

tourism jobs

UNWTO Tier II Not yet posted Not yet posted

Goal 9

9.4.1 - CO2 emission per

unit of value added

UNIDO, IEA; partner

with UNEP

Tier I Definition: CO2 emissions per unit value added is computed as the

ratio between CO2 emissions from fuel combustion and the value

added of associated economic activities. Gross value added is defined

as output minus intermediate consumption and equals the sum of

employee compensation, gross operating surplus of government and

corporations, grossed mixed income of unincorporated enterprises and

taxes less subsidies on production and imports, except for net taxes on

products. Disaggregation can be performed by ISIC Rev. 4, by

manufacturing sector and industrial subsector.

Connection to the SEEA: Gross value added is consistent with the

SNA 2008 and thus the SEEA. The use of ISIC is also consistent with

the SEEA.

Data on total CO2 emissions from fuel combustion

(also disaggregated by sector) are taken from IEA

database. GVA figures will come from UNIDO;

figures for updates are obtained from UNSD.

Data are currently available for more than 130

countries.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: Air emission accounts should

be used since they utilize the same definitions and classifications as

the national accounts. This allows for the calcualtion of CO2

emissions per value added for the economy and for economic

sectors. Furthermore, the scope of CO2 emissions should also

include industrial processes and emissions due to land use change

as noted in the emission accounts.

Goal 11

11.4.1 - Total expenditure

(public and private) per

capita spent on the

preservation, protection

and conservation of all

cultural and natural

heritage, by type of

heritage (cultural, natural,

mixed and World Heritage

Centre designation), level

of government (national,

regional and

local/municipal), type of

expenditure (operating

expenditure/investment)

and type of private

funding (donations in

kind, private non-profit

sector and sponsorship)

UNESCO-UIS; partner

with IUCN

Tier III N/A N/A


urban solid waste

regularly collected and

with adequate final

discharge out of total

urban solid waste

generated, by cities

UN-Habitat, UNSD;

partner with UNEP

Tier II Definition: Proportion of MSW regularly collected and with adequate

treatment and disposal out of total MSW generated. MSW is waste

generated by households, and waste of a similar nature generated by

commerical and business estabilshments, industrial adn agricultural

premises, institutions such as schools and hospitals, public spaces

such as parks and streets and construction sites.

Disaggregation can be done at the city and town levels (location), by

income group, by source of waste generation and type of final

discharge.

UN-Habitat is collecting data in more than 400 cities

that are part of the City Prosperity Initiative.

Information can come from municipal records,

service providers, commuity profiles and household

surveys. For countries/cities that have data already,

the data will be collected through questionnaire.

However, in many cities, solid waste collection and

recycling data are incomplete or not available. For

these countries, a household survey will be done.

Data is available for over 1000 cities at the latest

update. Time series data will be generated over the

course of the SDGs.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: While there is no standard

international classification of solid waste, it is recommended in the

SEEA CF to use the European Waste Catalogue (EWC-Stat). The

category of municipal wastes can be used as a starting point.

It is noted in the metadata that disaggregation can be done at the city

and town levels (location) or by type of final treatment and disposal.

SEEA physical flow accounts in waste can disaggregate along both

these dimensions, particularly for type of final treatment and disposal.

11.7.1 Average share of

built-up area of cities that

is open space for public

use for all, by sex, age

and persons with

disabilities

UN-Habitat Tier III Definition: The indicator requires 1) spatial analysis to delimit the built-

up areas of cities; 2) estimation of the total open public space and; c)

estimation of total area allocated to streets. The indicator is calculated

as the sum of the total surface of open public space and land allocated

to streets divided by the total surface of built up area of the urban

agglomeration.

It is expected that regional/global estimates will be

derived from national figures; specialized tools will

be developed and agreed with local and international

stakeholders. For estimating total surface of built-up

area, the indicator will rely on satellite imagery. For

the inventory of open public space, information may

be taken from legal documents outlining publicly

owned land and well-defined land use plans (as well

as open sources and community-based maps where

formal documents are lacking).

Data is available for 200 cities which are part of UN-

Habitat's city prosperity initiative. More cities are

expected to join this initiative.

Proposed connection to SEEA: The surface area of open public

space, land allocated to streets and the total surface of built up area

of the urban agglomeration can be considered through ecosystem

types and land cover classes. The SEEA EEA technical

recommendations present urban parks and road infrastructure as

possible ecosystem types for the land cover class of artificial areas.

Ecosystem asset accounts for urban parks and road infrastructure

can provide the spatial information needed for this indicator.

11.c.1 - Proportion of

financial support to the

least developed countries

that is allocated to the

construction and

retrofitting of sustainable,

resilient and resource-

efficient buildings utilizing

local materials

UN-Habitat Tier III N/A N/A

12.2.1 - Material footprint,

material footprint per

capita, and material

footprint per GDP

UNEP; partner with

OECD

Tier III See 8.4.1 See 8.4.1

12.2.2 - Domestic material

consumption, domestic


capita and domestic


GDP

UNEP; partner with

OECD

Tier I See 8.4.2 See 8.4.2

12.5.1 - National recycling

rate, tons of material

recycled

UNSD, UNEP; partner

with OECD, Eurostat

Tier III N/A N/A

12.b.1 - Number of

sustainable tourism

strategies or policies and

implemented action plans

with agreed monitoring

and evaluation tools

UNWTO; partner with

UNEP

Tier III N/A N/A

12.c.1 - Amount of fossil-

fuel subsidies per unit of

GDP (production and

consumption) and as a

proportion of total

national expenditure on

fossil fuels

UNEP Tier III N/A N/A

Goal 12

Goal 14

14.1.1 - Index of coastal

eutrophication and

floating plastic debris

density

UNEP; partner with IOC-

UNESCO, IMO, FAO

Tier III N/A N/A

14.4.1 - Proportion of fish

stocks within biologically

sustainable levels

FAO Tier I Definition: Proportion of fish stocks wtihin biologically sustainable

levels, where biologically sustainable is defined as a fish stock of which

abundance is at or greater than the level that can produce the

maximum sustainable yield (MSY) classified as biologically

sustainable. The basic benchmarks for the sustainability of fisheries

are set out by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

There is no data at a country level at the moment. To

compute the indicator, one needs to carry out a

stock assessment that uses fish catch statistics,

fishing effort data and biological information and fit

the data to a population dynamics model. After

completing the stock assessment for all stocks

concerned, fish stocks that have abundance at or

above the level associated with the maximum

sustainable yield are counted as biologically

sustainable and otherwise are considered as

overfished.

FAO has estimated fish stocks around the world

since 1974 to 2013, representing 70% of global

landings. However, these assessments have not

been done at the country level.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: The indicator requires a stock

assessment of fish stocks within a country. The SEEA asset accounts

for aquatic resources can provide information on the stocks and

changes in stocks of the quantity (and value) of aquatic resources

within a country's coastal and inland fisheries in its exclusive

economic zone. The asset accounts cover both natural and cultivated

stocks and also include those on the high seas over which the

country holds ownership rights.

14.5.1 - Coverage of

protected areas in relation

to marine areas

UNEP-WCMC, UNEP;

partner with Ramsar

Tier I Definition: Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas; the

indicator's intent is to show temporal trends in the mean percentage of

each important site for marine biodiversity that is covered by

designated protected areas.

Protected areas are defined by the International Union for Conservation

of Nature (IUCN). Sites contributing significantly to the global

persistence of biodiversity are identified following globally standard

criteria for the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (IUCN) applied at

national levels.

Protected area data are compiled by ministires of

environment and other ministires responsible for the

designation/maintenance of protected areas.

Protected area data is also available for sites

designated under the Ramsar Convention and the

UNESCO World Heritage Convention. These data

are aggregated globally into the World Database on

Protected Data (IUCN & UNEP-WCMC). UNEP-

WCMC produces the UN List of Protected Areas

every 5-10 years.

Key Biodiversity Areas are identified at national

scales through multi-stakeholder processes and

aggregated into the World Database on Key

Biodiversity Areas.

The indicator is then derived from a spatial overlap

between digital polygons for protected and digital

polygons for marine Key Biodiversity Areas.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: SEEA can inform classification

of marine ecosystems and protected areas via land-use

classifications. Biodiversity accounts for key biodiversity areas can

link drivers of and pressures contributing to biodiversity loss.

14.6.1 - Progress by

countries in the degree of

implementation of

international instruments

aiming to combat illegal,

unreported and

unregulated fishing

FAO Tier II Not yet posted Not yet posted

14.7.1 - Sustainable

fisheries as a proportion

of GDP in small island

developing States, least

developed countries and

all countries

FAO, UNEP-WCMC Tier III N/A N/A Proposed connection to the SEEA: The indicator requires a stock

assessment of fish stocks within a country. The SEEA asset accounts

for aquatic resources can provide information on the stocks and

changes in stocks of the quantity (and value) of aquatic resources

within a country's coastal and inland fisheries in its exclusive

economic zone. The asset accounts cover both natural and cultivated

stocks and also include those on the high seas over which the

country holds ownership rights.

14.a.1 - Proportion of total

research budget allocated

to research in the field of

marine technology

IOC-UNESCO; partner

with UNEP

Tier II N/A N/A

Goal 15

15.1.1 - Forest area as a

proportion of total land

area

FAO; partner with

UNEP

Tier I Definition: Forest area as a proportion of total land area. Forest land is

defined as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than

5 metres and a canopy cover of more than 10% or trees able to reach

these thresholds in situ. Does not inlcude land that is predominantly

under agricultural or urban land use and is not strictly defined on the

basis of changes in tree-covered areas.

FAO collects data on forest areas from countries

every 5-10 years as part of the Global Forest

Resources Assessment (FRA). FRA 2015 contains

information for 234 countries and territories on more

than 100 variables related to the extent of forests,

their conditions, uses and values for 1990, 2000,

2005, 2010 and 2015.

For countries and territories where no information

was provided for FRA 2015, a report was prepared

by FAO using existing information from previous

assessments and literature search. However,

countries/territories which did not provide information

only represent an estimated 1.2 percent of the global

forest area.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: Definition of forest is that of

FAO, which is same as that used in SEEA. Asset accounts for land

can be used to obtain the amount of forest area, in particular physical

asset accounts for forests.

15.1.2 Proportion of

important sites for

terrestrial and freshwater

biodiversity that are

covered by protected

areas, by ecosystem type

UNEP-WCMC, UNEP;

partner with Ramsar

Tier I Definition: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater

biodiversity that are covered by protected areas. This indicator shows

temporal trends in the mean percentage of each important site for

terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that is covered by designated

protected areas. Protected areas are defined by the International Union

for Conservation of Nature--clearly defined georgraphical spaces

recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective

means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated

ecosystem services and cultural values.


environment and other ministires responsible for the








every 5-10 years.




Biodiversity Areas.



polygons for terrestrial and freshwater Key

Biodiversity Areas.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: SEEA can inform the different

ecosystem types for disaggregation and the classification of

protected areas via land-use classifications.

15.2.1 - Progress towards

sustainable forest

management

FAO; partner with

UNEP, UNFCCC

Tier I Definition: "Sustainable forest management" SFM is defined by the UN

General Assembly as a "dynamic and evolving concept [that] aims to

maintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental values

of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future generations."

The indicator is composed of five sub-indicators that measure progress

towards all dimensions of sustainable forest management: 1) Forest

area net change rate, 2) Above-ground biomass stock in forest, 3)

Proportion of forest area located within legally established protected

areas, 4) Proportion of forest area under a long-term forest

management plan, 5) Forest area under an independently verified

forest management certificate scheme.

FAO collects data on the sub-indicators every 5-10

years as part of the Global Forest Resources

Assessment (FRA). FRA 2015 contains information

for 234 countries and territories on more than 100

variables related to the extent of forests, their

conditions, uses and values for 1990, 2000, 2005,

2010 and 2015.

For countries and territories where no information

was provided for FRA 2015, a report was prepared

by FAO using existing information from previous

assessments and literature search. However,

countries/territories which did not provide information

only represent an estimated 1.2 percent of the global

forest area.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: Definition of forest is that of

FAO, which is same as that used in SEEA. Asset accounts for land

can be used for subindicator one, in particular physical asset

accounts for forests.

SEEA EEA asset accounts can also be used for subindicator 1, 4 and

5. In terms of subindicators 4 and 5, the SEEA EEA Technical

Recommendations clarify that the delination of ecosystem assets will

ideally involve a range of ecological and non-ecological criteria,

including land management and use.

15.3.1 - Proportion of land

that is degraded over total

land area

UNCCD; partner with

FAO, UNEP

Tier II Definition: Land degradation is defined as the reduction or loss of the

biological or economic productivity and complexity of rain fed cropland,

irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands resulting

from a combination of pressures, including land use and management

practices. This definition was adopted by and is used by the 196

countries that are Party to the UNCCD.

Total land area excludes the area covered by inland waters, such as

major rivers and lakes.

The indicator follows "one out, all out" based on evaluation of change in

subindicators. Subindicators include land cover, land productivity,

carbon stock. Baseline year for the indicator is 2015 and subsequent

values for the indicator during each monitoring period are derived from

the quantification/assessment of changes in subindicators as to

whether there has been a positive, negative or no change for each land

unit relative to the baseline value.

Connection to the SEEA: Sub-indicators are cited as beign technically

and economically feasible for systematic observation under the SEEA.

SEEA EEA carbon accounts can be used for the subindicator on

carbon stocks, though the metadata indiciates that IPCC contains the

most relevant definitions and standards. In terms of land cover, the

land cover classification proposed in the metadata is compatible with

the SEEA--the ISO standard, Land Cover Meta Language (LCML).

Data on indicator and sub-indicators will be provided

by national authorities to the UNCCD in their national

reports following a standard format every 4 years

beginning in 2018 (or through other national data

platforms/mechanisms endorsed by UNSC).

National data is not currently available for all sub-

indicators, though regional and global data are.

June 2017: UNCCD has

actively engaged with the

UNCEEA and presented their

metadata at the 12th UNCEEA

meeting in 2017.

15.4.1 - Coverage by

protected areas of

important sites for

mountain biodiversity

UNEP-WCMC, UNEP Tier I Definition: Measures coverage by protected areas of important sites

for mountain biodiversity, which shows temporal trends in the mean

percentage of each important site for mountain biodiversity that is

covered by designated protected areas.

Protected areas are defined by International Union for Conservation of

Nature (IUCN); designation must be made for the purpose of

biodiversity conservation, not de facto protection.


environment and other ministries responsible for the








every 5-10 years.




Biodiversity Areas.



polygons for mountain Key Biodiversity Areas.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: Key Biodiversity Areas span all

ecosystem types, including mountains. The indicator can therefore be

reported in combination with SEEA EEA ecosystem types. In addition,

the SEEA can inform classification of protected areas via land-use

classifications.

15.4.2- Mountain Green

Cover Index

FAO; partner with

UNEP

Tier I Definition: Change of green vegetation in mountain areas (forest,

shrubs, trees, pasture land, crop land, etc.).

Mountains are defined according to UNEP-WCMC classifications,

based on altitutde, slope and local elevation range. Green cover

includes forest land, grassland/shrubland and cropland. The amounts

of land covered by these three IPCC land cover/land use classes is

aggregated to calculate the size of total mountain area covered in each

country and expressed as a percentage of the total mountain area.

Data for the indicator comes from land cover data

extracted from FAO Collect Earth tool and the global

map of mountains produced by FAO/MPS in 2015

based on the UNEP-WCMC mountain classification.

Other comments: The indicator may also require additional tracking

of trends in snowpack and glacial mass balance.

15.5.1 - Red List Index IUCN; partner with

UNEP, CITES

Tier I Definition: The Red List Index measures change in aggregate

extinction risk across groups of species and is based on geniune

changes in the number of species in each category of extinction risk on

the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is expressed as changes

in an index ranging from 0 to 1.

The indicator is calculated by multiplying the number of species in each

Red List Category by a weight (1=near threatened to 5=extinct) and

summing these values. This value is divided by a maximum threat

score (total number of species multiplied by the weight assigned to

extinct). The final value is subtracted from 1 to give the Red List Index

Value.

National data comes from governments, NGOs and

academia, working jointly or separately. Data are

submitted by national agencies to IUCN or are

gathered by Red List Partnership. Current data are

available for all countries in the world and updated

approximately once every four years.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: SEEA EEA biodiveristy

accounts can provide measurement of changes in species. Linking

biodiversity accounts with the land-cover, land-use and EPEA of

SEEA CF can also support analysis of the cost-effectiveness of

expenditures on habitat/species conservation and the assessment of

returns on investment. In addition, using the links to economic

accounting, one can link biodiveristy accounts to key drivers

of/pressures contributing to biodiversity loss (e.g. energy use, carbon

emissions and sinks, built-up land, etc).

15.9.1 - Progress towards

national targets

established in accordance

with Aichi Biodiversity

Target 2 of the Strategic

Plan for Biodiversity 2011-

2020

CBD-Secretariat, UNEP Tier III N/A N/A

15.a.1 - Official

development assistance

and public expenditure on

conservation and

sustainable use of

biodiversity and

ecosystems

OECD, UNEP, World

Bank

Tier I/III Definition: Gross disbursements of total offical development

assistance from all donors for biodiversity. ODA is defined as the flows

from countries and territories on the Development Assistance

Committee's list of ODA recipients and to multilateral institutions which

are i) provided by official agencies, including state and local

governments, or by their executive agencies; and ii) each transaction is

administered with the promotion of the economic development and

welfare of developing countries as its main objective; and is

concessional in character and conveys a grant element of at least 25

per cent (calculated at a rate of discount of 10 per cent). ODA marked

for biodiversity is captured through the Creditor Reporting System via a

marker, introduced in 2002.

Data is taken from the Creditor Reporting System,

for which OECD/DAC has been collecting resource

flows since 1960, with a biodviersity marker

introduced in 2002.

Proposed connection to the SEEA: The effectiveness of the

disbursements on biodiversity can be measured through SEEA EEA

accounts on biodiversity. In addition, biodiversity accounts can also

be linked with land-cover, land-use and EPEA SEEA CF accounts to

support analysis of cost-effectiveness of expenditures on habitat and

species conservation and the assessment of returns on investment.

cover note for area a: coordination, discussion on un ...from the aquatic ecosystems, such as clean...

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